Perched above the small hamlet of Auerbach, located immediately north of Bensheim, Germany is the castle of Auerbach. The Auerbach Castle is privately owned, maintained and is free to visit. Hiking and walking around its grounds and castle is allowed and encourage by the many structures that have been put in place to reach the upper parts of the castle.

Auerbach Castle

This is a perfect destination for a day trip, where one can go and enjoy the weather and the beautifully forested grounds of the castle. The castle itself is rather small and may be used to get an excellent view of the surrounding area and countryside beyond.

There are plenty of trails – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Our merry travelers – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The entrance to the fortification – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Entrance – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The stairs up to the castle walls – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The south tower flying the Hessen Flag – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The north tower – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Fortifications of the castle – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Inside the castle fortification, interior entrance – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

An old fireplace and tools – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Interior wall and north tower – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Commemoration plaque – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Gabi and Ericka – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

We were lucky enough to stop on our way to Frankfurt, and on a day of exceptional weather, where we were able to easily make out the nuclear power plant ten miles away and the hills beyond that, at what must be close to fifty miles away.

North panorama – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The castle was built sometime in the thirteenth century on what they called the old hill, or Urberg. It was probably partially maintained as a strategic fortification well into the seventeenth century, when it was no longer needed.

Castle wappen commemoration – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Over the next hundred years or so, it fell into disrepair and eventually the north tower collapsed. In the nineteenth century, it was repaired and partially rebuilt, the former bailey^[1]A bailey is a protective walled courtyard, usually surrounded by a palisade or ditch outside. being converted into an Inn and eventually taking on its final form we see today. You can actually stay at the Inn even today.

Interior – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

An old window – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

A view of the outside wall – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

North tower gate – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Old tree – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The moat – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The south tower – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

A view of the hills behind – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

The north tower with Zwingenberg – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

South tower and Bensheim below – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

South tower looking south – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Bensheim (left) and Zwingenberg (righ) – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Looking north – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Inside one the north tower – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Castle well – Auerbach Castle – Auerbach, Germany

Restaurants

There is only one restaurant on the grounds and a cafe. The cafe is situated outside and you may even bring your own food and enjoy a nice picnic on the tables that have been provided, assuming I would guess, if you buy a drink. The restaurant is inside, has a marvelous outside terrace with overlook and is fully staffed. The restaurant and grounds are capable of actually holding weddings, with the appropriate arrangements, of course. They also occasionally hold dinner theaters and a Rittermahl^[2]In the U.S., this would be similar to our Medieval Times, where you get a knight fight and a dinner, while cheering your team on., complete with medieval games.

Auerbach Castle Restaurant

We ate lunch at the restaurant on the terrace, which of course has a commanding view of the countryside below.

Erick and Patti – Auerbach Castle Restaurant – Auerbach, Germany

They have a very good selection of typical German dishes and the service is also very good and timely. However, I am not sure how much English they speak, since we only spoke German to them and they never attempted to speak English. So if you are an English only speaker and plan to visit, be prepared, you may have to use the point and grunt method of ordering.

Salad and Goulash soup – Auerbach Castle Restaurant – Auerbach, Germany

Castle history – Auerbach Castle Restaurant – Auerbach, Germany

References[+]

References
↑1	A bailey is a protective walled courtyard, usually surrounded by a palisade or ditch outside.
↑2	In the U.S., this would be similar to our Medieval Times, where you get a knight fight and a dinner, while cheering your team on.